Typhoon Mekkhala Forms, Moving Towards Seas South of Ryukyu Islands; Path Still Uncertain

(CNA, Taipei, June 20) The Central Weather Administration issued a typhoon formation alert early this morning. A tropical depression that was located west of Guam has developed into a tropical storm, designated as Typhoon No. 7, Mekkhala (international name: MEKKHALA). It is predicted to move northwest by west, then north, towards the seas south of the Ryukyu Islands.

Wu Der-rong, adjunct associate professor at National Central University's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, stated today in a column for the "Heavenly Secrets Revealed Classroom" on the Foundation for Atmospheric Research and Promotion, that the latest model simulations show a stationary front lingering north and south between the seas of Central China and Northern China from the 25th to the 29th. Mekkhala is expected to turn north east of Taiwan, pass near the Ryukyu Islands, and then make a large northeast turn.

Wu Der-rong said that moisture near Taiwan will increase, and the atmosphere will become unstable. The degree of weather change varies greatly among different countries' model simulations, indicating that there are still uncertainties. The typhoon's path requires further observation.

According to data from the Central Weather Administration, as of 2 AM today, the center of Mekkhala was located at 13.9 degrees North latitude and 138.6 degrees East longitude, moving northwest by west at 15 kilometers per hour. The central pressure is 998 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds of 18 meters per second near the center, and a 7-level wind radius of 100 kilometers. (Editor: Huang Ming-hsi) 1150620

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